The Glossary Page is under construction. More terms are being added daily so check back!

Balusters or Banister are a turned, carved or otherwise vertical section placed between the handrail and the stair tread or stair stringer.

Balustrade is the framework formed by the combination of rail, newels and balusters on a staircase.

Box stairs, also known as straight stairs, are stairs with closed stringers.

Caps are used in over-the-post rail systems and is the portion of the rail fitting that widens and sits on top of the newel post.  

The landing is a resting place that is often located in the middle or top of a flight of stairs.  Landings are often used to change the direction of a stair.

Newels or newel post provide the main support for the rail system and it accommodates the strings, handrails and treads/risers of stairs.  At the base there is a starting newel and a landing newel at the turns or top of the stair.   

The Nosing is the front edge of the tread which projects beyond the face of the riser